During the regular Three Rivers City Council meeting of Nov. 9, aldermen voted to adopt a resolution authorizing the city’s participation in the Texas Enterprise Zone Program and nominated Diamond Shamrock Refining Company, L.P. Three Rivers Refinery as an Texas Enterprise Zone Program project.

The Texas Enterprise Zone Program is an economic development tool for local communities to partner with the State of Texas to promote job creation and capital investment in economically distressed areas of the state. The city nominated Diamond Shamrock Refining Company, L.P. Three Rivers Refinery for the Enterprise Project because they pledged to retain 290 jobs and spend $175,000,000 in construction. According to Caitlin Glenn with Ryan and Company, representing Diamond Shamrock Refining Company, L.P. Three Rivers Refinery, they are committed to hire 25 percent economically disadvantaged persons and enterprise zone residents for its new or replacement personnel for certified jobs over the next five years.

As a benefit to Diamond Shamrock Refining Company, L.P. Three Rivers Refinery, they will be eligible to apply for state sales and use tax refunds on qualified expenditures. The level and amount of refund is related to the capital investment and jobs created at the qualified business site.

In other city news, votes for board of directors for the Live Oak County Appraisal District were cast. Three Rivers ISD Trustees Karl Arnst and Arlon Retzloff each received 110 votes and will represent Three Rivers on the Appraisal Board.

The agenda item to supply natural gas to Love’s Truck Stop, a proposed business at US 281 and IH-37, was tabled.